1
as in struggled
to devote serious and sustained effort
everyone really hustled to get the project finished on schedule
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hurried
to proceed or move quickly
we'd better hustle, or we'll miss the train
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in squeezed
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
a swindler who hustled cashiers by getting them all confused while they were making change
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hustled
Early in the second period, just after Greaves got caught out of the net while playing a puck to his right, Provorov hustled to the other side of the net and sprawled across the ice, blocking a shot by Florida’s Tomas Nosek that would have tied the score at 1.
—
Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The Ducks’ fourth line toiled low in the zone, and after the Jets hustled to avert the threat there, Trouba’s ostensibly harmless fling from the far corner found the net, appearing to hit Winnipeg defenseman Ville Heinola’s stick first.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
Undermanned Sacramento hustled its way back into the game and trailed by just one with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
—CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
As wildfires burned hundreds of acres of Kansas prairie this week, TikTok users grabbed phones and cameras to record images of ash falling like snow, cattle being hustled to safety, firefighters in farm fields and other images from the emergency.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2026
Undermanned Sacramento hustled its way back into the game and trailed by just one with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
To help fund a potential move, not to mention ski passes at Perfect North Slopes, Goepper hustled.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
As the lights came up, Taylor had already been hustled out, as had Arnaud.
—Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
Then there’s the vehicle that Good was fatally shot in being hustled away on a flatbed truck.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2026
Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The Ducks’ fourth line toiled low in the zone, and after the Jets hustled to avert the threat there, Trouba’s ostensibly harmless fling from the far corner found the net, appearing to hit Winnipeg defenseman Ville Heinola’s stick first.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
Undermanned Sacramento hustled its way back into the game and trailed by just one with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
—CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
As wildfires burned hundreds of acres of Kansas prairie this week, TikTok users grabbed phones and cameras to record images of ash falling like snow, cattle being hustled to safety, firefighters in farm fields and other images from the emergency.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2026
Undermanned Sacramento hustled its way back into the game and trailed by just one with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
To help fund a potential move, not to mention ski passes at Perfect North Slopes, Goepper hustled.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
As the lights came up, Taylor had already been hustled out, as had Arnaud.
—Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
Then there’s the vehicle that Good was fatally shot in being hustled away on a flatbed truck.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hustled
Verb
-
Alcantara struggled in his World Baseball Classic debut three years ago for his native Dominican Republic, which didn’t advance out of pool play that year.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The 30-year-old offensive tackle — who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent ahead of the 2019 season — was brought to Charlotte in 2024 as a reserve option at tackle for the Panthers, who were interested in bolstering an offensive line that struggled mightily the year before.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The district was represented by general counsel Devora Navera Reed as well as by an outside counsel who hurried to the scene.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
When the wait had become alarmingly long, Lilian and Anna hurried into the woods.—
Yiyun Li,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When residents are this squeezed, City Hall’s predictable response has been to charge us more.—
Bradley Schnell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The 2012 draft brought a decent linebacker in Olivier Vernon and squeezed one 1,00-yard season from running back Lamar Miller.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Lakshmi even labored over the shape of the studio, citing studies that conclude rounded shapes facilitate focus and creativity.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Many states in recent years have labored to pass sports betting laws, tapping massive tax revenues from wagers to balance their budgets.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The clatter of rising shutters echoed through the empty streets, the occasional rambler scurried past, along the walls, bundled tightly in his coat, women walked by with milk bottles tucked in shawls wrapped around their chests.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Tirado scurried to at least half a dozen bags before finding his and pulling out … pickle juice.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The European flax bedding comes embellished with a crocheted seam just above the ruffled edge and looks like it was plucked right out of a Victorian trousseau.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Rather than wait on her line tho, Sesno smartly came forward and plucked the ball out of the air before a shot could be taken.—
Clark Fahrenthold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sheri Penzari, who has worked for United, Delta, and the now-defunct Eastern Air Lines, also recommends dual-purpose dressing.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The Hawks worked the ball up court and got it to Webb who fake a drive to make some space and then drilled a three with 10 seconds left to retake the lead.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Volunteers, including McGuire, sped to the shores of Huntington Beach to help.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The car sped through the streets.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hustled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hustled. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
